Colombia: Rebel plot against Uribe

Colombia's defense minister says authorities have uncovered a plot by a unit of the country's main leftist rebel group to assassinate former President Alvaro Uribe.

Tuesday's announcement comes less than a week after the government and FARC rebels announced a significant advance in year-long peace talks: a guerrilla role in Colombia's political life if a peace agreement is reached.

The 61-year-old Uribe is an implacable foe of the talks.

Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon says Uribe was informed of the alleged plot by the FARC's Teofilo Forero column. He's offered no details on how authorities learned of it.

It could not immediately be determined whether the rebel leadership was aware of the alleged plot.

Uribe, his wife and two grown sons have about 300 people protecting them.